Reading Around the World - Countries that start with the letter A

Books with links (to Goodreads), are books that I have read. I also included how I rated the book out of 5. If you follow the link to Goodreads you can get all the information you need about the book.

Books without links are suggested reads (suggested by friends, or other blogs I have found) for those countries.

Afghanistan

And the Mountains Echoed  - By Khaled Hosseini - My score 4/5. Read December 2014

A House Without Windows  - By Nadia Hashimi - My score 5/5. Read December 2017. 

Wow! Gripping, emotional and breath-taking! Beautifully written.

The Pearl That Broke its Shell - By Nadia Hashimi - My score 5/5. Read December 2017

The Kite Runner - By Khaled Hosseini

Albania

The Siege - By Ismail Kadare - My score 4/5. Read January 2019.

Broken April - By Ismail Kadare

Algeria

What the Day Owes the Night - By Yasmina Khadra. My score 4/5. Read August 2023.

The Last Summer of Reason - By Tahar Djouat

The Stranger - By Albert Camus

Andorra

Andorra - By Peter Cameron. My score 5/5. Read in June 2021. 

This was a beautifully written piece of fiction. Peter Cameron has a way of creating visual images, but also making the words themselves sound beautiful. I initially chose it because of the setting (had to check Andorra off the list), but loved it for it's value as a fascinating story, unique and interesting characters, and yes... unusual setting. It should be noted that this Andorra (seaside village) does not resemble the real Andorra (land-locked country) but for good reason. Highly recommended. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. 

Mr. S. and the Secrets of Andorra's Box - By Ross O'Carroll-Kelly

Angola

Good Morning Comrades - By Ondjaki

Long Lost - by Harlan Coben

Antigua and Barbuda

Mr. Potter  - By Jamaica Kincaid - My score 1/5. Read April 2020. 

This book drove me crazy. No plot, just a series of random jumbled thoughts completely out of order. It also contains an agonizing amount of repetition. I only completed it because I'm trying to read a book set in every country in the world, and Antigua is not an easy one to add to the list. Not recommended.

Lucy - By Jamaica Kincaid

Argentina

The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club - by Jessica Morrison. - My score 2/5. Read May 2022

Ugh. A ridiculous romance with an annoying and predictable main character. The only redeeming quality was the setting.

The Aleph and Other Stories - By Jorge Luis Borges

Armenia

The Fool - By Raffi

Australia

Big Little Lies - By Liane Moriarty - My score 4/5. Read in January 2016. 

Very enjoyable. I liked the characters and cared about what happened to them. I was waiting for a twist, but didn't expect the one that happened. Well played, Liane Moriarity! 

The Light Between Oceans - By M.L. Stedmen - My score 4/5. Read in June 2013. 

A little slow in the beginning, but it turned out to be a beautifully written and gripping story. Highly recommended.

Lost and Found - By Brooke David - My score 5/5. Read in November 2017.

Nine Perfect Strangers - By Liane Moriarty - My score 3/5. Read in December 2018. 

I wanted to love this one. Probably a 3.5/5... but I just couldn't round up. I have been waiting for another Liane Moriarty book. The positive: She does a terrific job of maker her characters real, and making you empathize with them. I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen. The negative: WAY too many characters... the book was too big... it reminds me of when Harry Potter #4 came out (AKA the first big fat one!) It is almost like the editors just say "You're a moneymaking machine... do what you want." I think I would have loved this book if it was pared down... maybe 6 perfect strangers?

Three Wishes - By Liane Moriarty - My score 4/5 - Read in February 2018.

Truly Madly Guilty - By Liane Moriarty - My score 4/5. Read in February 2019. 

I waffled between a 3 and a 4 again. I was annoyed at the beginning. It was taking too long to find out what happened. Once I did fine out I felt more satisfied. Moriarty has well developed characters, which to me, is what makes her books so interesting.

The Best of Adam Sharp - By Graeme Simsion - My score 4/5. Read in March 2018. 

Please note that this book is also set in the U.K. and France.

The Thorn Birds - By Colleen McCullough

Austria

The Huntress - By Kate Quinn - My Score 5/5. Read in November 2019. 

Please note that this book is also set in Russia, Poland and the United States. First the things I didn't like... the actual physical book was too big. It was literally difficult to hold. I also had trouble initially getting into the story. But then...once I was hooked, I wanted to keep reading right until the end. I knew how it was going to end, but I was waiting in anticipation for it all to come together. I loved the way the three stories weaved together, and unlike The Alice Network I didn't find any of the characters annoying.

The Hotel New Hampshire - by John Irving

Azerbaijan

Ali and Nino - By Kurban Said